By Samyuktha | Teach for India Fellow, Hyderabad
The current academic year is in full bloom with one of the largest cohort of Fellows in recent years that we have on boarded. Our Fellows are fully invested in creating lessons that are fun, fast and effective using the five pillars of Purpose, Integration, Partnership, Method, and Mastery.
In July 2024, we launched the "School as a Unit" conversation structure, aimed at creating a supportive ecosystem for Fellows by fostering open dialogue between Fellows and their Headmasters/ Headmistresses. These conversations are designed to clarify expectations and establish a collaborative environment that enables Fellows to thrive while working towards student outcomes.
In August 2024, we conducted a Headmaster Conference which attracted more than 90% of our school leaders for 2024. Throughout the day, our leaders learnt about the program at Teach For India, dived into the nuances of child safety and reflected on how to make their schools safer for everyone.
In the first week of September, we saw our Alumni return to classrooms and our Patrons enter our classrooms! Over 35 people taught, learnt and reflected to take us one step closer to our vision of all children attaining an excellent education. Patrons included the first female IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh, actresses, influencers, entrepreneurs, CEOs etc.
Hear from Samyuktha, a Fellow in Hyderabad
In the last three months, I have initiated several programs to enrich our classroom experience. We have launched Saturday Workshops led by peers from diverse career fields, providing students with practical exposure through fun and engaging activities. I implemented a Study Buddy system to promote faster and more enjoyable peer learning. With the help of my co-fellow Akshay, we introduced mixed group classes for Grades 4 and 5, allowing us to provide targeted attention to address learning gaps. Additionally, we organized Pustakaar reading sessions, allowing students to choose their favorite storybooks, fostering a love for reading. Those who showed effort in writing their own stories had the opportunity to visit the Pustakaar office to explore a variety of books.
Despite these initiatives, we face challenges, particularly low student attendance. To address this issue, I have begun tracking attendance closely and updating parents on their child's presence in class. I plan to hold Parent Investment Conferences to discuss how irregular attendance can directly impact a child’s performance. My goal is to engage parents actively in their children's education by highlighting the importance of consistent attendance and support.
My vision for this year is centered around three strands: Leading Self, where I aim for every child to grow by one year in literacy, ensure that 100% of students pass math assessments, and achieve 90% attendance, along with fluency in English. Leading Others involves forming friendly bonds with my students’ parents by visiting their homes and getting to know them better. Lastly, Leading India focuses on ensuring that students grasp constitutional values and utilize them to address the societal problems surrounding them.
Links:
By Shreey | Teach for India Fellow, Cohort of 2023
By Shiwani Singh | Manager, Development
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